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Pam Bernardi from Bethel Park has been involved in Girl Scouts since beginning her daughter Violetta's Brownie troop seven years ago. Pam not only leads a troop, but she's also working to help more girls connect with the benefits of Girl Scouting.
"I am very passionate about sharing the Girl Scout experience, which is why I became a volunteer recruiter," she said. "I believe every girl should be in Girl Scouts!"
One moment that Pam will never forget is when her girls were working on finishing their Silver Award project.
The memorable day began when the troop went shopping for vegetables at Giant Eagle for a local food pantry at South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM). The girls had just finished their Silver Award project "Gardening for Good" where they built and maintained a vegetable garden for SHIM over the summer.
"Giant Eagle matched our donation of more than 100 pounds of food, doubling our donation to SHIM," she said. "Our shopping carts were full of fresh vegetables for local families, and my heart was full of pride."
Pam hopes that her Girl Scouts will remember how unique each of them are in their own way. "The girls have learned so many things along the way," she said. "As a mother of two sons with autism, I would hope that they remember that we are all different, and those differences are what makes each one of us so special."
Alida Skogsholm has been with the Girl Scout movement for five years. She is very involved with her troop of Girl Scouts. Alida said her favorite thing is "watching the girls grow and have fun together."
Alida counts a recent moment during a candle light ceremony for Camp Redwing among her most cherished Girl Scout memories. "The candle light ceremony held on Saturday night at Camp Redwing with the girls from our troop during the service unit encampement," she said. It was so beautiful."
She wants her Girl Scouts to remember that "being kind has so many rewards."
Many leaders love to watch their Girl Scouts accomplish tasks and goals that they thought they couldn't achieve. Volunteer Nancy Lampert from Tarentum has been a leader for the past six years and worked on the service team for the last three years.
She said her favorite thing about her role is "watching all of the girls grow and getting to watch them bloom!"
Nancy couldn't pick just one unforgettable moment of her time in Girl Scouts. "My favorite moments would be the ones where the Girl Scouts are not certain that they can do something, but then they have the look of triumph when they not only do the task, but they do it well."
She wants her Girl Scouts to remember "all of the hard work that they have put in to achieve their goals and know that they did it just like I told them they could."
David Schwab has been a volunteer with Girl Scouts for eight years. When asked what he likes best about his role with Girl Scouts, he said, "I like canoeing with the Girl Scouts. Some of them are scared, but I reassure them and in about five minutes, they're paddling around the pond and having a blast!"
Being a leader means working with girls who are nervous about doing new activities. A moment David will never forget is when he was working with a Daisy Girl Scout who was afraid to canoe with the other girls.
"She wouldn't get in the boat for any reason. So, I showed her how to catch fish with her bare hands right off the dock."
He hopes that his Girl Scouts remember from their experience "that they can do things, even if they've never done them before. I want to instill that there are no limits to what they can do."
Carrie Haney from Uniontown has been involved in Girl Scouts for the past seven years. She loves being able to teach the girls in her troop new skills, from camping and cooking skills to business and money skills.
Carrie fondly recalls many moments in Girl Scouts. "The look on the girls' faces when they accomplish something they thought they couldn't do is always priceless," she said.
Carrie hopes that her Girl Scouts will remember from their experience "to never give up and always do your best."
Leah Popson from Carmichaels has been a troop leader for three years and recently became a service unit manager, too. When asked what she likes best about her role with Girl Scouts, she said, "I love working with the girls. Arts and crafts, camp, day trips, singing old camp songs from my days as a Camp Henry Kaufmann camper! The girls don't seem to mind that I can't carry a tune!"
Leah also grew up as a Girl Scout. "It was a little surreal when we had our first meeting in the same church where I had meetings as a Girl Scout 30 years ago," she said. "It really means a lot to me that I can help continue the tradition of Girl Scouts in our community."
She hopes her troop and Girl Scouts everywhere will enjoy the opportunities they have to see and do things they've never done before!
Andrea Shissler from Delmont has been a volunteer for the past 10 years. She loves watching the young Girl Scouts grow and use their talents, such as earning their Silver Awards.
A moment that Andrea will never forget was during their first Court of Awards ceremony and pinning. "A young girl, as she was getting pinned, jumped for joy and said to me,' What an honor!' as I gave her the petals and membership pin," Andrea recalled. "She is still in my troop six years later, working on her Silver Award. To see her grow and mature has been amazing."
Andrea wants her Girl Scouts to remember that she is always there for them, no matter how busy life can get.
"I am confident that they are learning skills that they will use for a lifetime. The greatest honor is to hear someone say, 'I can do this because I am a Girl Scout and I learned how to do this as a Scout.' Or to hear an adult say that Girl Scouting helped her get where she is today. This is the investment I am making each week, for the long term," she said. "And of course, every leader wants to know their troop had fun along the way, too!"
A Girl Scout volunteer for nine years, Amy Gotz from Wexford is so proud of each girl in her troop and how much they have accomplished so far.
"I just love to help these amazing girls to discover their strengths, at their own pace," she said. "I am so grateful to them and their families for the opportunity to guide them along this journey."
One moment that Amy won't forget took place in May 2013.
Amy and her co-leader were with 14 Juniors and when they arrived, Amy and another mom were tending to a girl who got carsick, while the other girls were unpacking and checking out their camping area.
They came back to report that there were bees at their site. "That's when the chaos began," Amy said. With one girl sick, another girl came to report a bee sting, while the others were running about with excitement. Not long after, a third Girl Scout was stung, which was followed by immediate hives and a nose bleed. They contacted their service unit leader and medical advice, and the girl who broke out with hives was taken to the hospital by her mother, who was lucky enough to be on the trip with Amy! The young girl returned from the hospital the next day and completed a high ropes course with the other girls, even after all she had been through.
"It must have taken her 15 minutes, at least, to get across it. She did it. She was so happy! We were so excited for her that some of us were in tears," Amy said. "After all of the unexpected challenges that she, and we, faced, her accomplishment was all the sweeter. As a leader, a Mom, a sister, and a Girl Scout, I will never forget it."
Amy wants her girls to remember how strong they are and all of the endless opportunities they will have if they "love themselves, respect each other and nature, and work hard to make this world the wonderful place that it can be."
Girl Scouts across western Pennsylvania showed their giving spirit by teaming up with Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Goodwill of Southern Alleghenies for the "Give a Little Love" clothing drive.
And give they did! Close to 30,000 pounds and 1,500 bags of donated items were collected by GSWPA Girl Scouts during the month of February!
Brownie Troop 28843 dropping off 38 bags of donations at the Butler Goodwill.
While all girls who participated should be proud of their hard work, three girls from each Goodwill area went above and beyond. Together, these six Girl Scouts collected almost 400 bags of donations!
These six girls are the winners of a paid trip to camp, courtesy of Goodwill!
Goodwill Southern Alleghenies:
Jordan Straub- 57 bags
Keita DeRosa- 108 bags
Paige Kline- 17 bags
Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania:
Maddison DiMond – 84 bags
Naudia Zotter – 69 bags
Genevieve Brooks – 63 bags
Many volunteers grow up as a Girl Scouts themselves, like Kriss Svidro from Washington, Pa, She has spent eight years as a Girl Scout and has been an adult volunteer since 1989. Over the 28 years she has been a volunteer, her favorite thing about her role in Girl Scouts is watching the girls work hard to achieve their Gold Awards. Kriss also loves "working with the amazing adult awards committee to promote and encourage others to recognize those outstanding volunteers they come across every day."
One of Kriss's favorite memories is when the girls took action to plan a troop event. "One of my Senior Girl Scouts called to tell me the troop had planned the end of the year celebration without help from the troop leaders," she recalled. "She told me where and when to show up, what awards needed to be ordered, what we were eating, how the Court of Awards was planned, who and how much to make the check out to for the food and gifts. It was a proud moment to see how far they had come since Brownies."
Kriss hopes that her girls always remember how much they can achieve by putting one foot in front of the other and following through. She hopes they learn something new every day and realize that life is fun and needs to be enjoyed.
"I was just told by a leader today, she loves that she always learns something new every time we talk. That simple comment made my week. I try hard to help girls, less experienced leaders and volunteers learn about the customs, history, and traditions of the organization that Daisy founded. It's so wonderful to see girls grow into women in this marvelous organization." Thanks Kristin for all of your hard work!
Monique Powell from Wilkins Township has been with GSWPA for nine years and Girl Scouts for eleven. She was also a Girl Scout overseas!
Monique loves helping her girls realize their full potential and overcome obstacles they may come across. She relies on the wonderful support she receives from her troop, other leaders, and great parents to help the girls accomplish a lot. "Right now, all of our girls have the medals for their grade level or are candidates for their medals." This is a huge accomplishment since most of her troop are also involved in other extracurricular activities and high academic achievers!
A moment Monique will never forget is the teamwork her troop used during a work weekend at camp. The girls were the oldest there so they volunteered to build and set up the tents. "It was amazing to see them work together to raise those poles and set up those tents," she said.
Monique hopes her girls remember to extend a helping hand, even if someone may not need it. She said, "They will remember the support or kind work heard from us and pass it on to others."
Christy Uffelman tree climbing at Camp Skymeadow with her troop.
"I am scared of heights, but knew if my girls were doing it, I had to also!"
Christy Uffelman from Pittsburgh has been involved with Girl Scouts for more than 30 years, as a Girl Scout in high school, a camp counselor, serving on various committees, and now, an assistant troop leader for her daughter's Cadette troop.
When asked what she likes best about her role with Girl Scouts, Christy said, "I'd love to say that it's the opportunity to inspire and empower our next generation of fierce women, but the truth is, being with them inspires me."
She loves watching them being courageous and confident when making a case to ask for what they want, disciplined and hardworking when working on a service project, and creative and bold planning their next steps to impact their community and each other's lives. "I watch them in the quieter moments, too, when someone is having a tough time, how they encircle her and show their support," she said.
She hopes her girls learn how this experience will shape them into the amazing women and leaders they will become. She hopes they learn it is okay to fail, but to improve upon those failures.
Personally, Christy learned the "value of authentic connection. Not to just give to others, something most people think about when they think of Girl Scouting, but also how to receive."
"I learned how to be on the other side, to allow others to care for me. After all, that's what is at the heart of being human," Christy said. "No one has ever made it through life without the help of others. Girl Scouting is a magnificent web that has supported me and will always be a part of who I am."
A huge aspect of Girl Scouts is being willing to try and learn new things. That is exactly what volunteer Kim Watson from Austin hopes her girls learn and remember from their Girl Scout experience. Kim has been volunteering for 13 years now and loves watching the girls grow and accomplish many different types of tasks.
She will never forget the hard work her Daisy troop put into for a food drive. "They were so proud of the pyramid of food they collected for the food bank drive," Kim said. "They all worked so hard boxing all of it up." Kim loves seeing how her girls can relate to their own community and know they can make a difference.
In her eight years as a Girl Scouts volunteer, Chrissy Schaeffer from Greensburg has loved watching her girls grow as leaders themselves and helping them achieve their goals.
Chrissy also enjoys working with other fellow leaders. "Over the last eight years, I have developed so many lasting and strong friendships," she said. "When I started volunteering with GSWPA, I was relatively new to the area. My fellow leaders welcomed my family and I into their lives and families."
One moment Chrissy will never forget in Girl Scouts is when her service unit traveled to Savannah to see the Juliette Gordon Low house. "It was truly inspiring to walk through the house Juliette Gordon Low grew up in and walk on the same sidewalks that Juliette walked every day," Chrissy said. "I truly admire Juliette's determination and passion for Girl Scouts. I strive to be just like her."
Chrissy hopes her girls will remember and cherish the opportunities they have had in Girl Scouts. She works with other leaders and parents to help provide opportunities for the girls that they might not have had otherwise. "I want my girls to appreciate the time and dedication of all Girl Scout volunteers."
Tanya Gabel from Meadville has been with Girl Scouts for the past three years. She loves being a positive influence in the girls' lives and watching them grow and learn together.
A special moment she will never forget was during a field trip to the Carnegie Science Center. During this trip, they were able to tour a World War II submarine.
Going from section to section was not easy since I am disabled. I remember quite well how my Daisies were holding my purse and trying to help me over the dividers," she recalled. "We all had a great laugh about it and that trip was one that we will never forget!"
Tanya wants her girls to remember to push themselves and strive to be greater. "I want them to remember that it's not what you make or achieve, it's how you make it or get to your achievement. I want them to have fun and learn together, even if it means not getting first place."
Barn-raising is underway at Camp Skymeadow! Thanks to nice weather, the new barn for Skymeadow is taking shape quickly. We can picture it now: happy horses waiting comfortably in the new structure for all the adventurous Girl Scouts coming to camp this summer!
There are still spots available for Skymeadow's awesome camp programs. They'll fill up soon, so be sure to reserve your Girl Scout's spot today!
Tonia Seese from Girard is in her seventh year as a Girl Scout volunteer. She loves seeing the girls be brave when trying new things in Girl Scouts. Her favorite thing about her role is seeing the girls have fun together during activities and trips.
A moment in Girl Scouts Tonia will never forget is when her troop attended Camp Hawthorne Ridge to help during work weekend. They had been attending this camp for a few years and she loved to watch the girls give back.
"They were excited to wash dishes and clean the bathrooms! Any other time, they would rather not do these jobs, but at camp, they love helping to make it better," she said.
Tonia hopes that her girls will remember to "not take life so seriously and have fun no matter what they are doing." She wants them to know that they have the power to make a difference in their own lives, others lives, and the community around them. Thanks for being an inspirational volunteer Tonia!
Lynnette Pistner of Clearfield has been a Girl Scout nearly all her life, and a volunteer for more than 13 years, carrying on a tradition in her family as fourth-generation leader.
When asked what she likes best about her role, Lynnette said, "Knowing that I am able to make an impact, even in a small way, in the lives of all the girls I lead."
A very special moment that Lynnette will never forget was her own wedding day, when all of the girls in her troop were her junior bridesmaids.
"During the planning and prepping for my big day, the girls showed a level of maturity that you usually do not see for girls between the ages of 12 and 15," Lynnette said.
"They helped with everything from dress shopping to clean up. We are a very close troop and experiences like this and the numerous road trips we have had together make it feel more like a family then just a Girl Scout Troop."
Lynette hopes her girls learn a lot from their time in Girl Scouts, but most of all, she hopes they learn leadership skills.
"I have a mixture of girls and all with different characteristics and I strive to make them all leaders in their own way," she said. "Some are born with leadership potential and others have it hidden in them and just need that extra push to find it." She hopes they all remember that herself and other volunteers helped them to hone their leadership skills and grow into amazing women.
All month long we are celebrating the dedication of amazing volunteers like Dottie! You can nominate an awesome Girl Scout volunteer you know by sending them this short form.
Dottie Neal, from Indiana, has been a volunteer for 22 years since becoming a Brownie Leader in 1995. She is currently a leader of Junior Girl Scouts in troop 40804, as well as the Service Unit Manager, an Outdoor Trainer, and many other volunteer positions.
When asked what she likes best about her role with Girl Scouts, Dottie said, "I love watching the girls grow in their self-confidence the most. It is a great joy to meet a girl as a Daisy and watch her progress through her Girl Scout experience." She loves watching the girls serve their community and learn new skills they can take with them into the future, such as camping or business skills.
Dottie's daughter, Jessica, grew up in Girl Scouts as well. While mother and daughter share many amazing Girl Scout memories, Dottie especially cherishes watching her work on and finish her Gold Award project.
"Girls are so busy in high school, so to take time to finish up a Gold Award project is a big goal. Jessica finished her project during the summer after she graduated," Dottie recalled. "I watched her learn new skills about planning events and working with adults outside of her regular circle. She learned so many skills that summer, which had a big impact on her confidence level when she went off to college that fall."
Dottie has worked with many different volunteers and troops over the years, and she loves reminiscing on all of her memories in Girl Scouts. She hopes that all of the girls she has worked with can look back on their time as Girl Scouts, whether at camp or at meetings, and be grateful and laugh at all of the great memories they shared.
"They mostly remember our camping trips and end of the year trips, which I am so glad we took the time to do both of those things," Dottie said. "It's fun to look back and laugh together. I want girls to remember the friendships they made."
Volunteer Dottie Neal has loved being involved in the Girl Scouts movement for over 20 years! She has worked with so many different troops, girls, and volunteers. She hopes that she can inspire others to volunteer for the Girl Scouts! Thank you Dottie!
Celebrate Earth Day and Girl Scout Leader's Day on April 22!
April 22 isn't just a normal Saturday. It happens to be Earth Day AND Girl Scout Leader's Day! Need some ideas for how to celebrate? We've got you covered!
There's no limit to what you can do to celebrate Earth Day, but the key is to get outside and enjoy everything that Mother Nature has to offer! Check out these programs and ways to get outdoors on April 22:
Outdoor Art Badge Day at Camp Skymeadow. Girl Scouts of all ages can complete the new Girls' Choice Outdoor Art Badge with a day of fun art projects to display outdoors, and made using natural materials. An all-day session is being offered for Brownies-Ambassadors, and short (morning or afternoon) sessions are available for Daisies. Can't make it on April 22? We're hosting a second Outdoor Art Badge Day at Camp Hawthorne Ridge on May 13! Learn more and register.
Tree Climbing at Camp Skymeadow. Experience the thrill of tree climbing and go as high as you can into the trees of Camp Skymeadow's great oaks! At the time of this post, Session 3 has two spots remaining so register now. Can't make it on April 22? We're also offering Tree Climbing sessions on May 6! Learn more and register.
Punxsytawney Phil's Weather Extravaganza. Visit the world famous Gobbler's Knob to learn all about weather, make a SWAP, take a tour of the Phantastic Phils public art display and more at Punxsutawney Phil's Weather Extravanganza! Sign up now.
Comcast Cares Day. Comcast is hosting several community service projects on April 22 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and Girl Scouts are invited to join in this day of volunteerism! These are not Girl Scout events but they are a great way to give back. Girls must attend with a parent or troop leader and let the site leader know you are part of Girl Scouts. Here are some specific sites in our area that involve painting, landscaping, and general cleanup:
Bethel Park Historical Society, 2600 South Park Road, Bethel Park
Clairton Elementary School, 501 Waddell Ave, Clairton
Washington Area Humane Society, 1527 PA-136, Eighty-Four
ABS Athletic Field (Avonmore Boro), 6th St. Ext., Avonmore
Learn more and sign up at comcastinthecommunity.com.
Get Outdoors Challenge. Can't make it to the events above? Have fun in the outdoors at your own pace—and girls could earn a one-of-a-kind patch through GSWPA's first-ever Get Outdoors Challenge! Find out more.
GIRL SCOUT LEADER'S DAY
Let your troop leader know how much you appreciate everything they do for Girl Scouts on Girl Scout Leader's Day! Check out these ideas for showing them how awesome they are.
Pat Burkart and Martha Smith
GSWPA to Award Lifetime Member Commemorates 75 Years in the Girl Scout Movement
Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) honored Fox Chapel resident Martha Smith for 75 years in Girl Scouts with a special pinning ceremony.
Patricia A. Burkart, CEO of GSWPA, presented an honorary pin to Smith on Thursday, April 6 at her residence.
"I'm honored to count Martha Smith among our most dedicated supporters of girls' leadership development through Girl Scouts," said Burkart. "Thanks to Martha's efforts here in Pittsburgh and around the globe, more girls have experienced the life-changing benefits of Girl Scouting."
Smith has been a Girl Scout since she joined Troop #3 in Highland, Indiana when she was 7 years old. She continued to participate in troop activities throughout her childhood and teen years.
High school graduation didn't end Smith's connection to Girl Scouts. While attending college at Purdue University, she was also a volunteer for a local troop.
She married Phillip Smith in 1955 and taught math in a local high school. The Smiths had six children over a 15 year period, and Martha continued her volunteer work with Girl Scouts. When her oldest daughter became a Brownie, Smith signed on as an assistant Girl Scout troop leader.
While in Indiana, she was asked to be on the program committee, on the board, and the president of her local council.
Eventually her family moved to Pittsburgh where she was active in the council as a delegate to the National Council meeting, a board member, and president from 1994-2000.
The Smiths were very active in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts' (WAGGGS) efforts to help girls throughout the world. They were founding members of the Olave Baden Powell Society (OBPS), a global network of WAGGGS supporters that provides financial help to the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting Movement. Martha Smith served on the OBPS board for nine years.
Martha Smith was invited to join "Friends of Our Cabana" in 1980, a group of volunteers that provides support for Our Cabana in Cuernavaca, Mexico, one of the five WAGGGS World Centres that welcomes traveling Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from all over the world. She was a substitute member of the Our Cabana committee, and chairman of the organization for seven years. As the chairman of Friends of Our Cabana committee and as an Honorary Associate of WAGGGS, she has attended several world conferences.
Smith traveled near and far for the Girl Scouts movement, including England, Germany, Mexico, Sweden, Kenya, Canada, and many states in the U.S. She received her Juliette Lowe medal on behalf of her council for her international work.
For 75 years, Smith has exemplified the Girl Scouts' mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. "I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for Girl Scouts," Smith said. "It makes you realize how much bigger you can be than just the small town you grew up in."
"I just wish all girls could be Girl Scouts," she added.
Friends and GSWPA staff attended the special pinning ceremony. Pictured left to right, front row: Fanny Ross, Martha Smith, and Marlene Szary. Back row: Pamela Balas, Theresa Bone, Deborah Smith, Patricia Burkart, Susan Gold, Sandra Bernardi Hathazy, Kriss Svidro, Elizabeth Teti, and Alicia Templeton.
Aimee Hogg
Aimee Hogg from Greensburg has been a volunteer with Girl Scouts for two years, but plans to continue for many years to come! When asked what she likes best about her role with Girl Scouts, Aimee said, "The girls! I have so much fun playing with them and helping them grow to be great women."
As a leader, Aimee will never forget their first bridging ceremony for their troop, which was followed by an fund picnic. She wants her girls to know that "anything is possible with a good group of girls beside you!"
Catherine Bellinger from Pittsburgh has been involved with Girl Scouts for more than 30 years! Her commitment and love for Girl Scouts has truly shined through in her hard work and her troop.
Catherine's favorite thing about volunteering for Girl Scouts is "providing a service to the community and the wonderful, beautiful girls." She hopes her girls to cherish the great times they had together as Girl Scouts. She wants them to remember "that we had fun and learned to realize we can make a difference because we have the power to do so!"
All month long we are celebrating the dedication of amazing volunteers like Aimee and Catherine! You can nominate an awesome Girl Scout volunteer you know by sending them this short form.
Patricia Hawthorne from Smithfield has been volunteering for Girl Scouts for the past three years. What she likes best about her role with Girl Scouts is building girls' confidence by connecting them with new experiences.
Patricia grew up a Girl Scout herself and her favorite memory from her time in a troop was when her troop sang "Washington Waddle" while waiting in line to visit the White House!
Patricia keeps making memories with her own troop. "As a leader, taking my daughter and her friends to camp for their first time and experiencing their excitement to do something that I've always loved to do," she said.
Patricia hopes that her girls learn a lot from her and from their Girl Scout experience. "I want my Girl Scouts to know they are strong women and they can achieve any goal that they want in life!"
Heather Lucy from Chalk Hill, has been a volunteer with Girl Scouts for the past 10 years.
Heather says her favorite thing about being involved in Girl Scouts is "helping the young girls become strong, independent young ladies." She loves teaching the girls and leading them on their leadership journey during their time in Girl Scouts.
While Heather has a long list of amazing memories with her troop, one unforgettable moment for Heather was attending her first Gold Award Ceremony with the first girl in her troop to receive that award. She wants her girls to remember how much she cared for them and their futures during their time in Girl Scouts.
All month long we are celebrating the dedication of amazing volunteers like Patricia and Heather! You can nominate an awesome Girl Scout volunteer you know by sending them this short form.
Amy Herne from Wexford has been with Girl Scouts for six years, one as a parent volunteer and five as a troop leader. She loves to see her troop experience and try new things.
"Watching their confidence grow from Brownies to Cadettes has been the most rewarding aspect of volunteering," Amy said.
When asked to describe a moment she has had in Girl Scouts that she will never forget, Amy said, "I have so many unforgettable moments, it's hard to pick just one."
Amy recalled one memorable camping trip when the girls were third-grade Brownies. "We decided that the girls were ready to start learning more about campfires and campfire safety. As we were lighting the fires with steel wool and batteries, one of my girls said, 'Mrs. Herne, are you sure that you are allowed to let us start fires?' It is a joy when girls accomplish something they don't think was possible!"
Amy wants her Girl Scouts to remember that hard work and a plan can help them achieve success, just like that day learning how to start a fire.
"Think big! Nothing is out of reach. You just need a plan to get there," Amy said.
Thanks for your dedication to Girl Scouts, Amy!
Also in her fifth year with Girl Scouts, Tiffani Cariss from Murrysville says her favorite thing about volunteering with Girl Scouts is leading a diverse group of girls.
"In my role as a troop leader, I have enjoyed getting to know the girls I have worked with over the past years," Tiffani said. "It's amazing that so many different personalities can come together and have a great time at meetings."
She also admires the other dedicated volunteers as well. "As the service unit manager, I have enjoyed seeing all the hard work that other volunteers put in to make the most of Girl Scouts for the girls in our community," she said
Tiffani has loved watching the girls grow and build their self-confidence. "When the girls first started in Daisies, they were quiet, shy, and not quite sure of themselves," Tiffani said. "It has been a privilege and an honor to see each one of them open up in their own way and in their own time. They are truly some remarkable young ladies." She hopes her troop remembers that they can do anything they wish by working hard and setting goals.
All month long we are celebrating the dedication of amazing volunteers like Amy and Tiffani! You can nominate an awesome Girl Scout volunteer you know by sending them this short form.
National Volunteer Month: We believe in the power of YOU!
Amy Smith from Ambridge has been a volunteer for more than 10 years and worked as Girl Scout staff until 2014. When asked what she likes best about her role with Girl Scouts, she she said, "I enjoy working with the girls and helping them discover their potential!" She has many memories in Girl Scouts as a girl, volunteer, and former staff member.
Girl Scouts is packed with exciting memories for girls and volunteers. "I will never forget the time during outdoor training we put a log on the fire and it was a nest for mice and baby mice ran everywhere," Amy said. "As another leader pulled the mouse-house log out of the, saving the baby mice, one ran up her pant leg!"
Amy also has fond memories from the time she spent as a Girl Scout as a girl. "I had to change into my Girl Scout uniform because we were leaving school early for something special and Girl Scout related," she recalled. "I was a Cadette in sixth or seventh grade and I was afraid I would be teased about my uniform, but instead I ended up answering a bunch of questions about my badges and awards. I was very proud of my accomplishments in Girl Scouts."
Amy's time in Girl Scouts has led her to be an amazing volunteer to girls today. She hopes that she can "give girls an opportunity to experience something they might not try otherwise." Thank you Amy for your dedication to Girl Scouts!
Denise Nana Cerilli-Martz from Greensburg has been a volunteer for five years.
"I have been given the amazing ability to work with girls from all troops on their higher awards. I also love all my little Daisy and Brownie girls in our troops!"
When asked to describe a moment she has had with Girl Scouts that she'll never forget, Denise said, "I think the first time one of the girls came up to me outside of Girl Scouts and gave me a big bear hug in front of all of her school friends."
Denise wants her Girl Scouts to "act like proper ladies and stay willing to try new and exciting things, and to respect others always." Thanks Denise! We appreciate all of your work with your troop!
All month long we are celebrating the dedication of amazing volunteers like Amy and Denise! You can nominate an awesome Girl Scout volunteer you know by sending them this short form.
National Volunteer Month: Encouraging girls to dream big
Michelle Longmore from Wexford has been a troop leader for seven years and a service unit registrar for two years. When asked what she enjoys most about her role with Girl Scouts, Michelle said, "I enjoy watching the girls work together and how they have matured over the years."
Even as leaders, volunteers in Girl Scouts get to join in the fun. One moment that Michelle will never forget was at her service unit camp weekend at Camp Redwing. "Myself and two other leaders started singing camp songs from long ago when we were Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts," she said. "We laughed and had so much fun, and our girls just looked at us like we were crazy!"
Michelle hopes her girls remember that they can achieve anything with courage and determination. Thank you for volunteering, Michelle! We appreciate all you do for Girl Scouts!
Marcie Yee from Bethel Park has been a volunteer with Girl Scouts for eight years. She has also been a Service Unit Manager and head of recruitment for about five years.
She loves the experience of Girl Scouting and seeing girls working together. Her favorite part about her role with Girl Scouts is being a leader.
"I love the time I have gotten to spend not only with my daughter, but with all my girls and my amazing co-leader," she said.
"Being able to see this troop of girls grow into the outstanding young women they are becoming is such an honor. This fall they will enter high school and while I am sad to think an end is just around the corner, I am filled with so much excitement to see what all they have in store for themselves!"
Marcie's favorite memory is being at camp with her troop on the high ropes course. She loved seeing all the different ages of girls cheer on each other to get through the course.
"I hope my girls will always know how strong they are and that if they believe in themselves they can reach the stars," Marcie said.
Her advice to girls is to aim high and never give up. "Some things may be a little scary and some things may seem too far out of reach, but if you try your best, stay positive and sometimes, fake it 'til you make it, you can and will achieve your goals!"
All month long we are celebrating the dedication of amazing volunteers like Michelle and Marcie! You can nominate an awesome Girl Scout volunteer you know by sending them this short form.
National Volunteer Month: We appreciate our volunteers!
Cindy Yard and Cathy Clever have been volunteering together for the past seven years, leading a group of girls that include their daughters, Chloe and Riley, who are now Cadette Girl Scouts. When asked what they like best about their role in Girl Scouts, the pair agreed that helping girls become confident and caring has been rewarding.
"The best part of being a leader, is watching the girls grow," Cathy said. "It is an awesome responsibility to help shape these girls. They have grown into strong, confident, caring young ladies. We have made many lasting memories along the way."
Cathy Clever with the girls
when they were Brownies.
Some of those lasting memories include camping with the girls. One moment that Cindy will never forget is a camping trip that got the moms in on the fun.
"We had the opportunity to camp at Singing Hills a couple of summers ago and we decided to do the low ropes challenge course. The girls went off with one facilitator and all the moms worked together in a separate group. I will never forget the fun we had completing the challenges together, especially standing on a log side-by-side, try to swap places with one another without falling off. We have been very lucky to have moms who love to be involved in our troop activities!"
Cathy wants the girls to remember to always be "kind, to be their own person, to realize they are capable of everything and anything they put their minds to."
Cindy Yard pins her daughter Chloe
when she bridged to Daisy. She's
now a Cadette Girl Scout.
"I hope they see their own personal strength to make a difference, and know they have made lifelong friends they can count on to get them through anything," she added.
Cindy hopes her troop learns that they are amazing young women.
"I want every girl to remember that they are each an important individual and that their thoughts, ideas, and contributions to the world matter," Cindy said.
"I have tried to help them be confident and have the courage to step outside their comfort zone to try new things. I hope they know that I will always be there for each of them if they ever need an adult to support them."
All month long we are celebrating the dedication of amazing volunteers like Cathy and Cindy! You can nominate an awesome Girl Scout volunteer you know by sending them this short form.
Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) welcomes Pam Williams, a.k.a. Ducky, as the new director of Camp Skymeadow!
Pam Williams
Originally from Lakewood, Colorado, Pam is new to our council but no stranger to Girl Scouts! She has a long history of Girl Scout camp adventures as a girl and as staff.
We can't wait for all the fun that Ducky has in store for Girl Scouts at Skymeadow this summer!
Q&A with Ducky
How long have you been with GSWPA and/or your particular camp? I am just joining GSWPA, but I have worked at Girl Scout camps for nine summers.
Were you a Girl Scout growing up? Did you go to Girl Scout camp? I was a Girl Scout for 11 years growing up and went to Girl Scout camp. I went to two different camps in Colorado and enjoyed all of the camp offerings; hiking, farm animals, archery, arts and crafts, and dance and drama. Since then, I have worked at Girl Scout camps all over the United States.
Tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, etc.) I have an older brother that is an Eagle Scout, My Eagle Scout dad is still very involved as a Scout master for the Boy Scouts. My mom was a Campfire Girl, but was still very involved with my Girl Scout troop and was an area cookie director.
In my spare time I enjoy traveling to new places (and old). I also enjoy reading books, mostly historical fiction.
What's your favorite camp activity? I love archery and swimming.
What do you like best about working at camp? I love meeting all the new people. I also love working with kids, and just watching them try new things.
What makes the camp you work at so awesome? Skymeadow has so many activities! Fishing, canoeing, hiking trails, sports field, horses, swimming, biking--there's something for everyone.
Do you have a favorite GS camp memory? From when I was a camper: the girls in my cabin were playing a game of pillow toss, during rest time. It was all we could do that didn't make lots of noise, we played for about the entire hour before the counselors told us to stop, it was all we could do to keep from laughing and disturbing the rest of the bunk.
From when I was a staff member: Last summer the waterfront director and I got stranded out on the lake while we had campers getting ready to set out on sailboats. It was miserable, because of the heat, but entirely funny because we were literally up a creek without a paddle.
Learn more or register for exciting summer camp sessions at gswpa.org/camp.
Congratulations to Troop 16184 of Freedom, who took first place in GSWPA's 2017 Bling Your Booth Contest! Their deliciously cute "Cookie Land" booth garnered 364 votes! They'll receive a $100 Girl Scout Shop gift certificate and each girl will get a patch. Way to go!
Coming in a close second with 350 votes was Troop 20938 of Knox! Their Dr. Seuss-inspired booth will earn them a $75 Girl Scout Shop gift certificate and a patch for each girl.
Troop 40767 of Northern Cambria captured a third place finish, getting 280 votes for an adorable Troll-themed booth. They'll receive a $50 Girl Scout Shop gift certificate and each girl will get a patch.
We had 46 Bling Your Booth entries this year, and all of them were fantastic. Congratulations to our winners and great job to all who entered!


U.S. Men's National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter will continue the evaluation process of the MNT pool in his second camp in charge as 24 players have been called to gather beginning March 17 in Orlando. The team building process takes its next steps with challenges against Ecuador on March 21 at Orlando City Stadium (Click here for tickets), then five days later against defending South American champion Chile on March 26 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. Both matches will be shown live at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2, UniMas and UDN.
Fourteen players on the roster were part of the month-long January Camp, steeping themselves in the team culture and style of play. With a shorter window and two challenging opponents, familiarity equals opportunity when it comes to building on the foundation established against Panama and Costa Rica.
At the same time, Berhalter gets the opportunity to work in person with many veterans of the MNT who are based outside the United States. Having visited virtually all of those players in previous trips overseas, a total of 10 will now get their first experience in the new era. Of the 10, eight are based in Europe and one each in Mexico and MLS.
The roster holds an average age of 25 years, 265 days and 21 caps.
Having successfully recovered from a torn right ACL suffered last February with Seattle Sounders FC, forward Jordan Morris also returns to the team for the first time since January 2018. The 25-year-old striker tallied two goals in Seattle's 4-1 season-opening win against FC Cincinnati on March 2.
Fourteen players return from the MNT's January Camp squad that earned back-to-back wins against Panama (3-0) and Costa Rica (2-0), while 10 players will take part in their first camp under MNT head coach Gregg Berhalter.
Midfielder Tyler Adams will come to camp for the first time as a member of German club RB Leipzig. The 20-year-old has found consistent playing time with the Bundesliga side, helping the club to a 5-0-3 record in the eight competitive matches he has appeared in since his debut in late January.
Christian Pulisic comes off a weekend where he registered the game-winning assist and insurance goal in Borussia Dortmund's 3-1 win against Stuttgart.
Also in Germany, Weston McKennie provided an assist in Schalke's 4-2 defeat to Werder Bremen.
Striker Gyasi Zardes registered his first brace of the season in Columbus Crew SC's 2-0 win at New England Revolution on Saturday.
Zack Steffen saved a penalty and kept his first clean sheet of the season for Columbus in that match. Steffen's fellow goalkeepers Ethan Horvath (4-0 win vs. Eupen) and Sean Johnson (0-0 draw vs. D.C. United) also kept shutouts for their clubs this weekend.
Christian Ramirez opened his 2019 account, tallying the game-winning goal in LAFC's 4-1 win against Portland Timbers on Sunday.
Having scored the second goal in February's 2-0 win against Costa Rica, Paul Arriola began the season by finding the back of the net in a 2-0 win against Atlanta United FC on March 4.
Three players on the roster have previously debuted against Chile. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson played the second half of the USA's 1-1 draw against La Roja on Jan. 22, 2011, while Wil Trapp and Gyasi Zardes came off the bench in a 3-2 defeat in Rancagua on Jan. 28, 2015.


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With the two Co-60 irradiation facilities (GC200 and GC220) of the Reactor Institute, very high doses of gamma-radiation can be given to materials to be investigated: About 2000 Gy per hour. Such doses can be used to accelerate aging processes, to induce polymerisation, to sterilise, or to investigate radiation dosimetry methods.
The object to irradiate must fit in the facility. Inside, the gamma fluence is homogeneous due to the positioning of multiple Co-60 cources surrounding the sample position.


Performance is a buzzword for APIs. One of the most important and measurable parameters of the API performance is the response time. In this article, we will understand how to add code to measure the response time of an API and then return the response time data to the end client.
So, let's take a moment to think why we would ever need such a feature to measure the Response time of an API. Following are some of the points that have been the inspiration for writing code to Capture response time.
You need to define the SLA (Service Level Agreements) for your API with your clients. The clients need to understand how much time the API takes to respond back. The response time data over time can help us decide on an SLA for our API.
Management is interested in reports as to how fast or slow the application is. You need to have data to corroborate your claims. It is worth it to have reports on the performance of the application and to share it with Stakeholders.
The client needs to have the information of the Response time of the API so that they can track how much time is spent on the client and the Server.
You might also have encountered similar requests in your project and it is worthwhile looking at an approach to capture the response time for the API.
Let's explore a couple of approaches to capture the response time of our API focusing mostly on capturing the time spent in our API. Our objective is to calculate the time elapsed in milliseconds from the time the request is received by the Asp.net core runtime to the time the response is processed and sent back from the Server.
What factors are we ignoring?
It's important to understand that this discussion doesn't include the time spent in N/W, Time spent in IIS and Application Pool Startup. If the Application Pool wasn't up and running, then the first request can affect the overall response time of the API. There is an Application Initialization Module which we can make use of but that is out of scope for this article.
This code should be able to calculate the time spent in an operation. But this doesn't seem to be the right approach for the following reasons.
If an API has a lot of operations, then we need to add this code to multiple places which are not good for maintainability.
This code measures the time spent in the method only, it doesn't measure the time spent on other activities like middleware, filters, Controller selection, action method selection, Model binding etc.
Let's try to improve the above code by centralizing the code in one place so that it is easier to maintain. We need to execute the response time calculation code before and after a method is getting executed. If you have worked with earlier versions of Asp.net Web API, you would be familiar with concepts of Filter. Filters allow you to run code before or after specific stages in the request processing pipeline.
We will implement a filter for calculating the Response time as shown below. We will create a Filter and use the OnActionExecuting to start the timer and then stop the timer in method OnActionExecuted, thus calculating the response time of the API.
This code is not a reliable technique for calculating the response time as it doesn't address the issue of calculating the time spent in execution of middleware, controller selection, action method selection, model binding etc. The filter pipeline runs after the MVC selects the action to execute. So, it effectively doesn't instrument the time spent in the Other Asp.net pipeline.
We will use the Asp.net Core Middleware to Calculate the Response time of the API.
Basically, Middleware are software components which handle the Request/Response. Middleware is assembled into an application pipeline and serves in the incoming request. Each component does the following operations.
Chooses whether to pass the request to the next component in the pipeline.
Can perform work before and after the next component in the pipeline is invoked.
We want to add code to start the timer once the request enters the ASP.NET Core pipeline and stop the timer once the response is processed by the Pipeline. Custom Middleware at the start of the request pipeline seems to be the best approach for getting the access to the request as early as possible and access until the last step is executed in the pipeline.
We will build a Response Time Middleware which we will add as the first Middleware to the request Pipeline so that we can start the timer as soon the request enters the Asp.net core pipeline.
What to do with the Response time data?
Once we capture the response time data we can process data in the following ways.
Add the Response time data to a Reporting database or an analytics solution.
Write the Response time data to a log file.
Pass the response time data to a message queue which can further be processed by another application for reporting and analytics.
Send the Response time information to the client applications consuming our Rest API using the Response headers.
There may be other useful ways of using the response time data. Please leave a comment and tell me how you process the response time data in your application.
We will write the code considering the following points.
Reporting the data back to client applications by passing the data in the Response headers.
Full code snippet for the ResponseTimeMiddleware is shown below.
// Name of the Response Header, Custom Headers starts with "X-"
// Add the Response time information in the Response headers.
The interesting part happens in the InvokeAsync method, We use Stopwatch class to start the stopwatch once the requests enter into the first middleware of the request and then stop the stopwatch once the request has been processed and the response is ready to be sent back to the client. OnStarting method provides an opportunity to write a custom code to add a delegate to be invoked just before response headers will be sent to the client.
Lastly, we add the Response time information in a Custom Header. We use the X-Response-Time-msheader as a Response Header. As a convention, the Custom Header starts with an X.
In this article, we understood how to leverage ASP.NET middleware to manage cross-cutting concerns like measuring the response time of the APIs. There are various other useful use cases of using middleware which can help to reuse code and improve the maintainability of the application.
In this post I'll walk through the process of adding localisation to an ASP.NET Core application using the recommended approach with resx resource files.
Localisation in ASP.NET Core is broadly similar to the way it works in the ASP.NET 4.X. By default you would define a number of .resx resource files in your application, one for each culture you support. You then reference resources via a key, and depending on the current culture, the appropriate value is selected from the closest matching resource file.
While the concept of a .resx file per culture remains in ASP.NET Core, the way resources are used has changed quite significantly. In the previous version, when you added a .resx file to your solution, a designer file would be created, providing static strongly typed access to your resources through calls such as Resources.MyTitleString.
In ASP.NET Core, resources are accessed through two abstractions, IStringLocalizer and IStringLocalizer<T>, which are typically injected where needed via dependency injection. These interfaces have an indexer, that allows you to access resources by a string key. If no resource exists for the key (i.e. you haven't created an appropriate .resx file containing the key), then the key itself is used as the resource.
In this example, calling GetLocalizedString() will cause the IStringLocalizer<T> to check the current culture, and see if we have an appropriate resource file for ExampleClass containing a resource with the name/key "My localized string". If it finds one, it returns the localised version, otherwise, it returns "My Localized string".
The idea behind this approach is to allow you to design your app from the beginning to use localisation, without having to do up front work to support it by creating the default/fallback .resx file. Instead, you can just write the default values, then add the resources in later.
Personally, I'm not sold on this approach - it makes me slightly twitchy to see all those magic strings around which are essentially keys into a dictionary. Any changes to the keys may have unintended consequences, as I'll show later in the post.
For now, I'm going to ignore that concern, and dive in using Microsoft's recommended approach. I've started from the default ASP.NET Core Web application without authentication.
These services allow you to inject the IStringLocalizer service into your classes. They also allow you to have localised View files (so you can have Views with names like MyView.fr.cshtml) and inject the IViewLocalizer, to allow you to use localisation in your view files. Calling AddDataAnnotationsLocalizationconfigures the Validation attributes to retrieve resources via an IStringLocalizer.
The ResourcePath parameter on the Options object specifies the folder of our application in which resources can be found. So if the root of our application is found at ExampleProject, we have specified that our resources will be stored in the folder ExampleProject/Resources.
Configuring these classes is all that is required to allow you to use the localisation services in your application. However you will typically also need some way to select what the current culture is for a given request.
To do this, we use the RequestLocalizationMiddleware. This middleware uses a number of different providers to try and determine the current culture. To configure it with the default providers, we need to decide which cultures we support, and which is the default culture.
Note that the configuration example in the documentation didn't work for me, though the Localization.StarterWeb project they reference did, and is reproduced below.
We now have most of the pieces in place to start adding localisation to our application. We don't yet have a way for users to select which culture they want to use, but we'll come to that shortly. For now, lets look at how we go about retrieving a localised string.
If a resource exists in one of these files with the key "The localised title of my app!" then it will be used, otherwise the key itself will be used as the resource. This means you don't need to add any resource files to get started with localisation - you can just use the default language string as your key and come back to add .resx files later.
There are two kinds of localisation of views. As described previously, you can localise the whole view, duplicating it and editing as appropriate, and providing a culture suffix. This is useful if the views need to differ significantly between different cultures.
You can also localise strings in a similar way to that shown for the HomeController. Instead of an IStringLocalizer<T>, you inject an IViewLocalizer into the view. This handles HTML encoding a little differently, in that it allows you to store HTML in the resource and it won't be encoded before being output. Generally you'll want to avoid that however, and only localise strings, not HTML.
One final common area that needs localisation is DataAnnotations. These attributes can be used to provide validation, naming and UI hints of your models to the MVC infrastructure. When used, they provide a lot of additional declarative metadata to the MVC pipeline, allowing selection of appropriate controls for editing the property etc.
Error messages for DataAnnotation validation attributes all pass through an IStringLocalizer<T> if you configure your MVC services using AddDataAnnotationsLocalization(). As before, this allows you to specify the error message for an attribute in your default language in code, and use that as the key to other resources later.
A key thing to be aware of is that the DisplayAttribute is not localised using the IStringLocalizer<T>. This is far from ideal, but I'll address it in my next post on localisation.
These allow you to specify a culture in the querystring (e.g ?culture=fr-FR), via the Accept-Languageheader in a request, or via a cookie. Of the three approaches, using a cookie is the least intrusive, as it will obviously seamlessly be sent with every request, and does not require the user to set the Accept-Language header in their browser, or require adding to the querystring with every request.
Again, the Localization.StarterWeb sample project provides a handy implementation that shows how you can add a select box to the footer of your project to allow the user to set the language. Their choice is stored in a cookie, which is handled by the CookieRequestCultureProvider for each request. The provider then sets the CurrentCulture and CurrentUICulture of the thread for the request to the user's selection.
As you can see, the validation attributes and page title are localised, but the label field 'Your Email' has not, as that is set in the DisplayAttribute.
In this post I showed how to add localisation to your ASP.NET Core application using the recommended approach of providing resources for the default language as keys, and only adding additional resources as required later.
One of the nice things that the new ASP.NET Core stack brings to the table, is Dependency Injection (DI) as a first-class citizen, right out of the box. DI is nothing new, even for ASP.NET, but in the earlier versions, it wasn't baked into the platform, and developers were forced to jump through hoops in order to enable it.
While others, like WebForms and Katana, doesn't. Some will argue that the IDependencyResolver-type abstraction, which is essentially an implementation of the Service Locator pattern, is an anti-pattern and should be avoided, but that's a discussion for another day.
There are also other ways of achieving DI within some of the frameworks; MVC has IControllerFactory and IControllerActivator, Web API has IHttpControllerActivator etc. All of these are extensibility points that you can implement in order to leverage DI in your controllers.
As you can see, it quickly starts to add up - and this is just for a single container! Imagine if I'd compiled a list for the gazillion different IoC containers in the .NET space. Each of the adapters needs to be maintained, updated, versioned etc. That's a big burden on the adapter maintainers and the community in general.
On the consuming side of this, for a typical web application using MVC, SignalR and Web API, you'd end up needing three (or more) of these adapters, in order to leverage DI across the application.
Even though a lot of ideas and code have been carried forward from Katana, ASP.NET Core is by all means a re-imagining, re-write, re-EVERYTHING of the entire, current ASP.NET stack. Hell, it's even triggered a re-jigging of the entire .NET (Core) platform and tooling. This means that it's a perfect time to bring DI into the platform itself, and make all components on top benefit of a single, unified way of doing DI.
Say hello to IServiceProvider! Even though the interface itself isn't new (it's been living in mscorlib under the System namespace since .NET 1.1), it's found new life in the ASP.NET Core DI system. It's also accompanied by a couple of new interfaces; IServiceCollection, which is essentially a builder for an IServiceProvider and IServiceScope, which is intended for resolving services within a specific lifetime scope, like per-request.
In order for things to Just Work™, out of the box, Microsoft have implemented a lightweight IoC container that ships with the ASP.NET Core hosting layer. It's in the Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection NuGet package.
// This method gets called by the runtime.
// Use this method to add services to the container.
// Adds the services MVC requires to run.
In this method, you're free to add whatever services your application needs, and they will magically be available for constructor injection across the board. Different components in the stack also ship with extension methods to conveniently add the services the component needs to the collection, like AddMvc (shown above), AddCors, AddEntityFramework etc.
Now, it's important to note that the default implementation, living in Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection is a deliberately lightweight, feature poor (is that a word?), fast, implementation of an IoC container. It has just the amount of features needed for the runtime/platform/framework to compose itself and run. A "lowest common denominator" feature set, if you will. If you want more advanced features, like many do, Microsoft actively encourages you to Bring Your Own Container (BYOC), or layer the functionality on top, which I've done with Scrutor. This brings us back to IoC container adapters.
// Create an instance of a StructureMap container.
// services from the IServiceCollection.
// and return it to the runtime.
By doing this, all components will resolve its services from the StructureMap container, and you'll be able to utilize the full feature set of StructureMap, like awesome diagnostics, property injection, convention based registrations, profiles, decoration etc.
This post turned out longer than I expected, just to show a couple of lines of code at the end, but I thought it would be interesting to put everything in perspective and hopefully you did too. As you can see the DI story has been greatly simplified in the this new world, while still allowing you, as an application, library or framework developer, to utilize DI across the board, with minimal effort.
This tutorial aims for starting Angular 2 in ASP.NET Core using Visual Studio 2015. The release of Angular 2, ASP.NET Core RC is becoming interesting to build SPA.
I have compiled the steps involved in starting to learn Angular 2. This is detailed explanation, you will feel much easier at end of article.
I used Visual Studio 2015 Community Edition Update 3(Must update), TypeScript 2.0 (must), latest NPM, Gulp.
ASP.NET Core is designed as pluggable framework to include and use only necessary packages, instead of including too many initial stuff.
Lets create HTML file named "index.html" under wwwroot folder.
Right click on wwwroot folder, Add New Item and create index.html file. This HTML page will act as default page.
For ASP.NET Core to serve static files, we need to add StaticFiles middle ware in Configure method of Startup.cs page. Ensure that packages are restored properly.
project.json is redesigned to make it better, we have Static Files middleware to serve static assets like HTML, JS files etc.
Run the application now, ASP.NET Core renders static HTML page.
Delete this index.html page, we will be injecting this dynamically later. Till now you saw demonstration of "wwwroot" as root folder for ASP.NET Core web apps.
Angular 2 is famously claiming to be ONE Framework for MOBILE and DESKTOP apps. There's won't be any breaking changes after final release.
This tutorial refers 5 MIN QUICK START for getting started, it's more focused on other light weight code editors; but here we are using Visual Studio 2015 Community Edition Update 3 for its built in TypeScript tooling and other features.
Majority of webpack scripting is based on AngularClass's angular2-webpack-starter. I have modified according to ASP.NET Core web apps.
Angular 2 team is pushing the code changes using NPM rather than CDN or any other source, due to this we need to add NPM configuration file (package.json) to this ASP.NET Core application.
Right after saving this, ASP.NET Core starts restoring the packages. It would download all packages mentioned independencies section of above package.json.
Sometimes in solution explorer you might see 'Dependencies – not installed', don't worry this bug in tooling. All the npm packages are installed.
Add "tsconfig.json" in the project, copy paste below configuration.
It's mandatory to install TypeScript 2.o for working with Angular 2.
At present typings.json is not required because we are using @types with TypeScript. However if your using any other packages which don't have entries in @types then typings.json has to be added.
In package.json, we have added "webpack" packages as "devdependencies". They will perform all bundling work.
There are some common functionalities and some specific to environments. We will focus on development and productionenvironment to write accordingly.
Development environment should have source maps for debugging TypeScript files, minifying bundles of JS, CSS etc files not necessary.
Production environment should minify bundles to reduce loading time, do not include source maps. Webpack 2 also does tree shaking i.e. eliminate unused code to further reduce bundle sizes.
webpack.config.js – Based on environment set process.env.NODE_ENV, it runs either dev or prod configurations.
Webpack.common.js before bundling environment specific files, it performs tasks meant to be used for both environment.
CleanWebpackPlugin cleans "wwwroot/dist" folder every time we run it, so that we get fresh set of files.
I told you above to delete the index.html file, now the clientsrc/index.html will be moved to wwwroot usingHtmlWebpackPlugin. Plus Webpack injects the bundle files i.e. polyfills, vendor, boot JS files and includes them in HTML script reference.
Loads application in debug mode with source map. Everything run in memory i.e. html, js, static files are loaded in memory.
Merges all the bundle files and copies to wwwroot.
We have app folder containing HTML, Angular 2 components and root level module (app.module.ts) which gets loaded while bootstrapping application.
Some of files might be not interesting now, will focus them in separate articles later.
Before running make sure you have run command "npm install". This might not be needed but still it will ensure all packages are installed.
From command line (directory should be same as package.json), type "npm start" & hit enter. It will start running the webpack-dev-server which loads application and listens on localhost:3000.
When on console it says "bundle is now VALID" then open a browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000 to see application getting loaded.
Notice wwwroot folder, we don't see any files copied because everything is running in memory.
When browser starts rendering index.html page, it encounters <my-app>Loading…</my-app> tag.
Clientsrc/src/Appcomponent then resolves the <my-app> tag as selector in it and renders UI with TypeScript code.
This invokes webpack-dev-server, runs the development config and watches for any changes in clientsrc folder. Any changes in this folder will reload application with changes.


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Represented clients in leading Arizona cases applying the economic loss doctrine to limit damages available in cases covered by the UCC.


Not Weekends Click and Collect - Free - Choose from our Manchester and Leeds shops. Full of cute critters, adorable baby animals to colour in and packaged in an eye-catching spot-foiled cover, this book is perfect for colouring on the go. Lori Ennis Lori Ennis is a wife, mama and friend to all animals. Jess Rona is instagram famous for her slow motion blow-dry videos of groomed dogs, but what does she do to groom herself? I competed three times in grooming competitions which was also very helpful. The idea to film the enchanting videos stemmed from an occasion when Jess was blow-drying a Pekingese called Noodle and his ears kept flying up.
Jess Rona Grooming for canine creativity For Jess, both the grooming and the consequent videos, are ways to channel her creativity. There are the heart-wrenching ones as the dog looks shyly away from the camera as though wounded by a bad romance and then they are the glorious, regal ones as the animal stares down the lens with pride, loving the attention. Be sure to , out today! Jess Rona, who started out bathing dogs at PetSmart, has taken the talents she learnt as a teen and gone on to start a highly successful dog grooming business. Thoroughly entertained by the sight, she decided to film it — and has been doing so ever since to share the fun at her salon with the Internet. Over the past few months, The Instagram account of Southern California dog groomer Jess Rona has blown up pun intended.
As a dog groomer-to-the stars and Instagram star in her own right , Jess captures over one hundred funny, cute, and touchingly real moments as her canine clients go from bath to blowout, and drab to fab. I have never seen her Instagram or anything before reading this book I intend to now. Her Instagram jessronagrooming showcasing dogs being blown-dry in slo-mo, all set to catchy pop music, is a bona fide phenomenon. Here are 10 of the best Jess Rona Instagram posts: 1. Jess has directed shorts, commercials, and a music video for Tegan and Sara. I also got a Learn2GroomDogs subscription and took every seminar I could at the Expos.
Her slow-motion videos of dogs being dried to music have gone viral. Jess makes sure every single video tells a story. Jackie shares her , weeps over her overwhelming love of Chooch, and reviews the new drugstore magnetic eyelashes. Go to the bark side with gifts for dog lovers Cover blurb by Katy Perry; foreword by Sara of Tegan and Sara Three words: funny dog pictures Hardcover; 7. Starting her career as a dog bather at PetSmart at 18-years-old, she returned to grooming on the side to pay the bills between acting gigs. This is an incredibly fun and adorable book! She jokes that grooming dogs is like training men, making them think that they are in charge. Rona works out of a private home studio and is only available for grooming by referral.
Jess has done everything from writing and staring in videos for Funny or Die. For many of us, the jobs we take up at 19 years old are not ones we plan on sticking with forever. I had a wonderful mentor, Kate Garcia, who taught me my first lessons on how to groom. Initially she intended to become well known as a comedian or an actress, and moved to New York to pursue the dream. Sometimes the canines will be given a total makeover as Jess experiments with changing their shape with cutting techniques. Meet Jackie Johnson, Comedian and Beauty Passionista Jackie talks to fellow artists about what beauty and self-care means to them. Where did the Jess Rona Grooming inspiration come from? Serving fast food for eternity? The variety of these clips is endless.
As a dog groomer-to-the stars and Instagram star in her own right , Jess captures over one hundred funny, cute, and touchingly real moments as her canine clients go from bath to blowout, and drab to fab. With a lovely silver foil cover and a perfectly portable size for on-the-go colouring, everyone will enjoy colouring in I Heart Creative Colouring. Then I got a new iPhone 6 which has the slo-mo option so I started making slo-mo versions of it. Usually ready within 1 hour Even celebrities' cute dogs get dirty, and that's when Jess Rona gets busy. Lori and her husband have fostered Golden Retrievers for years, and know no home is complete without an animal buddy! Bursting with beautiful patterns to colour in, this book makes the perfect gift for colouring enthusiasts.
As a dog groomer-to-the stars and Instagram star in her own right , Jess captures over one hundred funny, cute, and touchingly real moments as her canine clients go from bath to blowout, and drab to fab. So, what is the next thing we can look forward to seeing from Jess? Something fancy and luxurious like Iv San Bernard. Delivery time: 3 - 5 working days Delivery cost: 2. To directing a music video for Canadian indie pop duo Tegan and Sara above. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and dogs, Chupie and Meemu, and is a notorious over-giver of treats. If the owner permits it, she might even try dying the dog — cue mermaid tails and fluffy, vibrant pink coats worthy of Elle Woods. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and dogs, Chupie and Meemu, and is a notorious over-giver of treats.
As a dog groomer-to-the stars and Instagram star in her own right , Jess captures over one hundred funny, cute, and touchingly real moments as her canine clients go from bath to blowout, and drab to fab. I also follow Korean, Japanese, and Chinese groomers on Instagram and I try to copy their style. Then I hopped from shop to shop for years working with a lot of great groomers that I picked up tips and tricks from. I'd say this book sums up the the idea behind her Instagram very well and reflects the love, joy and creative inspiration she gets from grooming dogs. With enough blank space inside for a message, envelopes to customise and cute stickers to seal your card, each book is the complete creative package.
Today, Jess is most famous on Instagram for her amazing — and hilarious — slow-mo videos of dogs being blow-dried. Jackie and all products she promotes are vegan and cruelty-free. As a dog groomer-to-the stars and Instagram star in her own right , Jess captures over one hundred funny, cute, and touchingly real moments as her canine clients go from bath to blowout, and drab to fab. As a dog groomer-to-the stars and Instagram star in her own right , Jess captures over one hundred funny, cute, and touchingly real moments as her canine clients go from bath to blowout, and drab to fab. Jess has taken inspiration from a variety of sources, including the quirky designs of Chinese, Korean and Japanese dog groomers; the techniques of other groomers and learning from seminars. However, on returning to Los Angles, she has become a celebrity in her own right after opening a plush dog salon and embracing fame as a dog groomer. She talks making your own nut milk, growing healthy hair, micro-needling, and of course, dog grooming.
Jess Rona works with fur-babies of the stars. I loved it, my mom loved it and I would recommend it. She's appeared in New Girl, One Mississippi, commercials, and lots of web videos. We dig through our makeup bags, we discuss the newest trends and products, and most importantly, we have fun! Jess has directed shorts, commercials, and a music video for Tegan and Sara. She has been mentioned in everything from Huffington Post and Dailymail. Go to the bark side with gifts for dog lovers Cover blurb by Katy Perry; foreword by Sara of Tegan and Sara Three words: funny dog pictures Hardcover; 7. Jess Rona has been acting and doing comedy for the past eight years.


Befrienders is a non-profit organization that provides companionship, support, and advocacy for the aging population throughout the Gallatin Valley.
Due to life transition, physical limitations or other circumstances, seniors may have limited social interaction. Befrienders matches a volunteer and a senior together to spend at least an hour each week doing a variety of activities, such as going out to lunch, playing games or just talking.
Befrienders was established in 1993 and has brought many generations together in a mutually rewarding relationship by honoring the human spirit and providing life-enriching volunteer opportunities. The program is free and open to seniors age 65 and older and volunteers age 18 and older.
Do you know a senior over the age of 65 who would like a visitor once in a while? Befrienders offers caring and compassionate volunteers that visit with a senior for at least one hour per week.
Looking for a way to get involved with Befrienders? There are lots of opportunities, from becoming a Befriender to a senior, joining our board, or volunteering on our special events committee.
If providing support and companionship for a senior is something you believe is important- make a tax-deductible gift today.
I love her. She cheers me up. I like that she's a college student because I went to college and love to remember and talk about that time in my life. She does so much for me.
We see each other frequently and he is very flexible and helpful. He came by recently to help me with my computer and go shopping and to get a haircut.
It's hard to believe it has already been a year! I definitely get as much —if not more—out of our time as they do.


January 2017 Current affairs Questions and Answers, today's General Knowledge questions and Answers pdf is available on our page. On the basis of 24th January current affairs, you can practice the 24th January 2017 GK Quiz.
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text:
Australia's Khawaja grabs Zampa's butt during pre-match national anthem
A video footage emerged on Wednesday showing Australia batsman Usman Khawaja becoming touchy - feely and progressively moving his hand down to teammate Adam Zampa's buttocks before the second One - Day match against New Zealand last week.
It happened when the teams stood with arms linked during the national anthems, presumably to test the debutant's composure, and giving him an unusual "welcome" to the side.
New Zealand sports show "The Crowd Goes Wild" spotted the incident and posted the 12 - second clip on its Facebook page.
To his credit, Khawaja was able to see the funny side of the footage being widely shared on social media.
Zampa was not put off by his teammate's affections, claiming two wickets on debut in a strong performance that helped him into Australia's squad for the World T20 in India.
Later on, Khawaja wrote on Twitter it was done out of fun.
"hahaha oh boy. Didn't realize there were cameras filming from behind, " Khawaja tweeted on Wednesday.
"haha it was all consensual. Just having a joke with the debutant, " the batsman said in second tweet.
progressively performance teammate's presumably debutant's consensual affections composure teammate national

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government to provide within 10 days pricing details of the 36 Rafale fighter jets bought from France.
The top court said it would "like to be apprised of the details with regard to pricing and cost particularly the advantages thereof, if any, which again will be submitted to the court in a sealed cover".
The government's top law officer KK Venugopal, however, told the court that it would not be possible for the government to provide pricing details to the court since this information had not been provided to Parliament either.
The Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions questioning the deal, told Attorney General KK Venugopal to make this point in their affidavit.
At the last hearing, the court had ordered the government to provide details of the decision-making process. But the three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had then made it clear that it was only seeking this information "for the purpose of satisfying ourselves". The bench had then, also underlined that the centre's report did not have to cover pricing or suitability of the equipment for the Indian Air Force.
The Supreme Court's order on Wednesday, goes one step further.
The three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, justice UU Lalit and justice K M Joseph said they had received the report about the process and wanted the government to share them with the petitioners too to the extent possible.
"We are of the view that the information conveyed upon in the report, which can be legitimately be brought into the public domain be made available to the lead counsel of the petitioners in all cases. Along with the said facts, further details that could legitimately come in the public domain with respect to the induction of the Indian offset partner, if any, be also furnished to the lead counsel of the parties," the bench ordered.
It said that if there were any details that "may be considered to be strategic and confidential" may at this stage be placed before the court and may not be furnished to the petitioners.
The NDA's decision to enter an $8.7 billion government-to-government deal with France to buy the 36 Rafale warplanes made by Dassault was announced in April 2015, with an agreement signed a little over a year later. This replaced the previous United Progressive Alliance regime's decision to buy 126 Rafale aircraft, 108 of which were to be made in India by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
The petitions have been filed by lawyers Vineet Dhanda and ML Sharma. Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has also moved the top court against the Rafale deal; Sanjay Singh has sought a court order for the formation of a special team to probe the matter under the Supreme Court's oversight.


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Q: Scriptlets in a JSP Page to Access an Authorization Framework Using Enums So I'm basically looking for advise on how I could improve on a solution.
Some Background First,
I developed an simple in-house authorization framework to control access and behavior in a Java/J2EE based application where the framwork could my used in any the Model, View or Controller layers.
When the user logs in they are passed a User Permission object based on their assigned role.  (Default is always deny).  The permissions consist of a Subject (enum) as well as a list of optional permissions (Create, Read, Update, Delete...).
In some places this is used to control the display of screen elements, in others it's combined with Strategy patterns to control system behavior based on the User's role.
In the JSP layer I access it via Scriptlets because the Code Complete option makes sure that a user doesn't enter a value that's not defined in the framework.
Code Example:
<% if (user.can(Permission.somePermission, Subject.subjectOfPermission)) {  %>
    <td >
            ...display something if the User can Access the Subject
    </td>
<% } %>
<% if (user.cannot(Permission.somePermission, Subject.subjectOfPermission)) {  %>
        ...display something if the User cannot Access the Subject
<% } %>

What I'm curious to find is if there is a better way to do this?  I've heard the mantra, "You shouldn't use scriptlets.  Everything should be done with JSTL and Custom Tags".
However, it seems to me that by using Custom Tags I loose the advantage of using Code Complete as well as enforcing the framework's contract.  To me, passing Strings to a Custom Tag only adds an extra layer of abstraction (to an abstract framework) and increases the chance of a mistake since we're now working with simple Strings.
Is there a way to create custom tag that would take Enum's as parameters or an alternate solution avoiding this altogether?

A: You could use EL for this. The way to do this is by first importing the core tag library, by putting this in the head of your jsp view.
<%@ taglib prefix="c"
       uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/core" %>

Put your subject + permission(s) for that user in a hashmap, and make a function hasPermission, that returns whether or not the user has the permission.
class User {
    private HashMap<String, List<String>> permissionMap;

    public boolean hasPermission(String subject, String action) {
        return permissionMap.getValue(subject).contains(action);
    }
}

In your servlet, you have to put the user object in an attribute of the request by using
request.setAttribute("user", userObject);

Afterwards, you can access them like this in your view.
<c:choose>
    <c:when test="${user.hasPermission('Record', 'create')}">
    // Code when access granted
    </c:when>
    <c:otherwise>
    // Code when access denied
    </c:otherwise>
</c:choose>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


S.H. Figuarts has released a new line of Avengers: Endgame action figures that offer a more detailed look at some of the upcoming film's key players. And alongside the various models for Earth's Mightiest Heroes, it's only natural that Thanos is also getting a toy of his own.
In the newly released stills, we see the Mad Titan decked out in shiny golden armor and brandishing a new sword. On his left hand, meanwhile, is his trusty Infinity Gauntlet, which he used to eradicate half the universe's population in last year's Avengers: Infinity War.
Incidentally, the villain's latest look has already been the subject of a fair amount of speculation. Specifically, since the character chose to take off his armor during Infinity War because he felt that his gauntlet kept him protected enough, you have to wonder why he's being so cautious in this next film. Moreover, if you already have a weapon that allows you to kill anybody in the universe at will, isn't it a little redundant to also carry a big sword around?
Perhaps the most popular explanation for Thanos' new accessories is that his gauntlet has taken some damage, and is no longer working as well as it used to. Then again, seeing how pretty much the whole universe is now out to get him, maybe the purple tyrant is just feeling a little anxious.
The film's trailers certainly haven't offered many hints on the matter, since the Mad Titan has yet to even show his face in any of the promotional footage. But regardless of what's in store for Thanos, all will be revealed when Avengers: Endgame hits theaters on April 26th.


Posted in E-Commerce on 28 March 2018, 08:00 , 0 Comments.
The number of factors that determine a shopper's purchasing habits are increasing as retailers expand their offerings both online and in-store. With some consumers more influence by external factors - like people and prestige, and others conscious of practical logistics, it's important for marketers to understand how we're different and tap into what works.
To uncover the main drivers of consumer shopping habits we conducted global research with over 5,000 consumers in 13 countries to create the 5 Ps of Shopper Motivation report. It set out to understand and identified five key shopper profiles: Peer, Price, Practicality, Personalisation and Perk Motivated Shoppers.
While this is the smallest group identified within the report, the Peer Motivated Shopper is the most loyal. Taking advice, inspiration and recommendations from friends, family members and online comments, the Peer Motivated Shopper likes to follow the lead of their peers – and are most likely to shop daily (16%) when compared to Price Motivated Shoppers (6%).
Unsurprisingly, those aged 25-34 years old are most likely to fall into this category of shopper (11% globally). This tallies with Barclay Consulting Group research, which found that 68% of this age group won't make a major decision until they've discussed it with a few people they trust, compared to 52% of those aged between 35 and 74.
Added to this, The New Language of Luxury found that before making a purchase, the younger generation turns to technology to seek reassurance from their peers with 34% talking about it via text/chat/ messaging. Excited to share news about their latest shopping haul, the research also discovered that 22% turn to social media to showcase their latest shopping purchase. Clearly, this generation care about what their peers think. With this in mind, why are they important and how can digital marketing professionals engage with Peer Motivated Shoppers?
As the most loyal consumer group, Peer Motivated Shoppers are the most likely to promote their favourite retailer to others, 65% compared to 38% of Price Motivated Shoppers. This is essential as it is estimated that those born between the early 1980s and early 2000s will have the most spending power of any generation from 2018.
For this generation, it's not surprising that they are turning to their peers and family members as well as online reviews and social media channels for instant shopping advice as highlighted by PwC's Total Retail report.
The increasing use of social media by this consumer category makes purchasing a product a more communal experience. This sees friends, family members and online communities all being kept up to date with a shopper's purchase both before and after the event. To make this easier social shopping apps such as ModCloth and Wanelo have been developed. These platforms enable users to share their latest purchases, find similar products and build a community of people with like-minded shopping styles.
• In 2017, clothing retailer Boohoo nearly doubled its profits following an Instagram influencer campaign where it used celebrities and bloggers to promote its products. With peer recommendations influential for reaching this audience, online influencer campaigns are set to continue throughout 2018 and beyond.
• Social media platforms are also continuing to offer brands new ways of reaching customers. For example, Pinterest is using its Lens feature to partner with retailers, allowing customers to simply take a photograph of a product and find a similar item available from the brand. Instagram has also upgraded its Stories function to allow brands to directly reach consumers by introducing its "Swipe up" function. With 250 million people around the world watching and creating Instagram Stories every day, this is no doubt the first in a number of planned upgrades that will enable brands and consumers to generate conversations from the popular app.
• New social shopping apps have also been created to allow users to share photographs of their favourite purchases. Combining a shopping platform with a social media channel, apps such as Qwibe, allow users to share images whilst shopping, gain followers and purchase products directly through it.
Today's consumer shopping habits are driven by an increasing number of influences, understanding a retailer's target audience is a complex and ever-changing task. For brands and marketing professionals targeting the younger generation, it's clear that peer recommendations and product insight delivered via digital channels are vital to reaching, engaging and keeping the most loyal consumer group happy.